I’ve often wondered whether authors base their romantic novels on real relationships in their pasts.

In my case, the answer is yes. A relationship I had with a boy in middle school (he was 12 years old and I was 11!) inspired me to write my own romantic novel. Even though 45 years have passed, I still cherish fond memories of this larger than life character: tall, darkly handsome, whip smart and, most importantly of all, funny. AND this handsome and smart boy used his wonderful gift for humour to flirt with me!

Virtually every afternoon for three or four months, he would walk home from school with me, always trying his hardest to make me laugh, creating cute nicknames for me and devising amusing songs about me, often snatching the little round green leather hat off my head (it was mid-winter) and kicking it across the street like a football.

I didn’t mind the teasing at all; it was good-natured, he made me laugh, and he was so gorgeous, with his curly dark hair, big brown eyes, and freckles. I looked forward to our afternoon walks home, and wrote about him in my diary every night. I still have that diary, filled with his witty comments, its cloth cover awash in the wild psychedelic colours that were so trendy in 1971.

By the end of the school year in June, he had stopped paying attention to me. He was Jewish, my mom told me, and his family probably didn’t want him to get involved with a Christian girl. Sigh.

For the next four decades, I was haunted by memories of this boy. He was such a unique individual with such a big personality, and I’ve never met anyone else like him. Then one day in early 2013, I had an important insight: unique personalities like my former boyfriend belong in novels!

Of course, nobody wants to read about the “puppy love” of two pre-teens. Well, maybe pre-teens do, but I was now in my 50’s . . . so I aged the two of us by 40 years. I kept my former boyfriend’s marvellous sense of humour but transformed him from a class clown to a professional stand-up comedian. I also kept his Jewishness; it’s an important part of who he is.

Once I established the character of the comedian, it was easy to spin a romantic tale around him and to create a host of other characters, especially the non-Jewish heroine (you’ll never guess who I based her on!). The rest of the novel is pure fantasy, the result of my overactive imagination run amuck (and some research), but its core, its heart, is the sweet relationship between a funny, outgoing boy and a shy, studious girl over four decades ago.

Middle-aged stand-up comedian Josh Steinberg, the “Jewish Comedy King” and formerly the star of his own popular TV series, finds himself struggling to keep his career alive, playing seedier and seedier clubs. Plump, balding, and plain-looking, he has never had much luck with women. That is, until Josh meets Holly Brannigan while performing his stand-up act in a club. Holly, an attractive, intelligent, and divorced 50-year-old businesswoman, becomes instantly smitten with Josh and even finds his unconventional looks wildly sexy.

The lonely and vulnerable Josh soon falls in love with Holly, even though she’s not the statuesque type he usually goes for. But Josh, terrified of being hurt and discarded by yet another woman, hides his feelings for Holly by making fun of her in his stand-up act. And Holly, taking Josh’s words to heart, starts to wonder if she means anything to him at all.

Pick up your copy of the romance novel “Love Is the Punch Line” today at Book City, 348 Danforth Ave., Toronto, one block west of Chester subway

Author Feature: Kathleen Jones

A graduate of the University of Toronto and Ryerson University’s Certificate in Publishing Program, Kathleen Jones toughed it out in the corporate world for over thirty (long) years, chiefly as an editor for various Canadian book publishers. Some of the time, she had the opportunity to do the type of work that she enjoyed . . . but too all often, she didn’t. Towards the end of her corporate career, the type of work that interested and challenged Kathleen began to slip away, and she became less and less happy.

Then one day, Kathleen realized something: creative, out-of-the box thinkers like her didn’t belong in the corporate world, and if she wanted “meaningful” work, she’d have to create it for herself.

That was when Kathleen decided to pursue the only work that she’d ever really wanted to do since she was a child: the work of a novelist!

Tell us about your stories:

I published my first novel, “Love Is the Punch Line,” with Moonshine Cove in April 2018. The novel is a quirky, funny, and somewhat serious midlife romance set in the world of standup comedy. I am currently working on a second novel.

What kind of success have you had?

Against great odds, I was able to sell my first novel to a publisher. Once the novel was published, it received a number of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Also, a number of middle-aged readers were happy to find a romance novel featuring characters their own age; far too many romance novels are based around young, beautiful, and rich people.

Are your characters pure fiction or based on something/someone.

Some of my characters are loosely based on real people. However, I usually base them on more than one real person.

Give us an insight into a time you wrote a scene with feeling.

Josh Steinberg, a plump, balding, and middle-aged male standup comedian who has been unlucky in love, spies Holly Brannigan, an attractive middle-aged woman, while performing his act in a comedy club. When Holly’s cell phone accidentally rings, Josh confronts her, and Holly, who’s also attracted to Josh, becomes upset and throws a glass of water into his face. Holly retreats to the washroom to cry, but when she emerges, Josh is waiting for her. He apologizes for getting angry, she invites him out for a drink, then she takes him home with her . . .

Final Thoughts?

This novel appeals to a much broader audience than the traditional audience for romance novels: the characters are realistic and complex, and the book has both strong male and female characters. In other words, it doesn’t fit neatly into the romance genre, or into any one genre.

Celebrate the month of love—Valentine’s Day—with this warm and funny romantic novel.

LibraryThing members (it’s free to join LibraryThing!) can request a FREE copy of the e-book version of Love Is the Punch Linein return for a review. The ebooks will be delivered by email. We are giving away these books to increase the impact of the message of the book but also to get more reviews online. Reviews on Amazon, GoodReads and LibraryThing are appreciated. Please choose the ebook format you prefer: .epub or .mobi,

Description:Middle-aged stand-up comedian Josh Steinberg, formerly the star of his own popular TV series, finds himself struggling to keep his career alive, playing seedier and seedier clubs. Plump, balding, and plain-looking, he has never had much luck with women. That is, until Josh meets Holly Brannigan while performing his stand-up act in a comedy club. Holly, an attractive, intelligent, and divorced 50-year-old businesswoman, becomes instantly smitten with Josh and even finds his unconventional looks wildly sexy.

The lonely and vulnerable Josh soon falls in love with Holly, even though she’s not the statuesque type he usually goes for. But Josh, terrified of being hurt and discarded by yet another woman, hides his true feelings for Holly by making fun of her in his stand-up act. And Holly, taking Josh’s words to heart, starts to wonder if she means anything to him at all.

“Everyday we are writing a story of our life. Trying to figure things out. Sometimes great writers can help us along the way. A great story can help us with our own. I like to find out what motivates great Authors to bring a great story to life. Kathleen Jones is an Author that does just that. She was able to share with us where she got her motivation from.”

Jason E. Foss

Jason: “What motivated you to write “Love Is The Punch Line”?”

Kathleen: “A relationship I had with a boy in middle school inspired me to write this novel. Virtually every afternoon for three or four months, he would walk home from school with me, always trying his hardest to make me laugh, creating nicknames for me and devising amusing songs about me, often snatching the little round green leather hat off my head (It was mid-winter) and kicking it across the street like a football. In other words, this handsome and smart boy used his wonderful gift for humour to flirt with me! I didn’t mind the teasing at all; it was good-natured and he made me laugh.”

Jason: “Briefly tell us about “Love Is The Punch Line”?”

Kathleen: “Middle-aged stand-up comedian Josh Steinberg, formerly the star of his own popular TV Series, finds himself struggling to keep his career alive, playing seedier and seedier clubs. Plump, balding, and plain-looking, he has never had much luck with the women. That is, until Josh meets Holly Brannigan while performing his stand-up act in a comedy club. Holly, an attractive, intelligent, and divorced 50 year-old businesswoman, becomes instantly smitten with Josh and even finds his unconventional looks wildly sexy.” “The lonely and vulnerable Josh soon falls in love with Holly, even though she’s not the statuesque type he usually goes for. But Josh, terrified of being hurt and discarded by yet another woman, hides his true feelings for Holly by making fun of her in his stand-up act. And Holly, taking Josh’s words to heart, starts to wonder if she means anything to him at all.”

Jason: “Describe Josh and Holly’s attraction toward one another and tell us what you like most about working with those two characters.”

Kathleen: “Josh is attracted to Holly’s intelligence and kindness; he also likes the fact that she “gets” him. Holly is attracted to Josh’s warmth, sense of humor, and vulnerability. I enjoyed working with these characters because they were realistic and flawed but also loveable.”

Jason: “Are you working on another book? If so, what can you share with us about it?”

Kathleen: “Yes, I am writing a second novel. It deals with the cruel way the modern corporate world treats its employees.”

Jason: “What is the easiest way to buy copies of “Love Is The Punch Line”?”

Kathleen: The book is available in both paperback and ebook formats from the following:

“It’s amazing how a great experience with someone from middle-school can motivate Kathleen Jones to create a unique love story. Finally Josh finds someone that “gets” him. The best relationships whether present or past it is pretty safe to say that they are usually with someone that “gets” us. So book lovers that enjoy reading a creative love story go to one of Kathleen’s links to buy her new book “Love Is The Punch Line.”

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Helpful Ideas for Newbie Novelists

A lover of words who writes from the heart.
Welcome to my site! I’m a refugee from the corporate world, a lover of books, dogs, and 1940’s/1950’s vintage clothing (not necessarily in that order!), a wife and a mom . . . and, oh yeah, a novelist!
My page is a forum to share helpful ideas with other fledgling novelists. It's also a bit of a dumping ground for posts on my personal interests (like vintage clothing) that have nothing to do with writing! Finally, this is a place for YOUR ideas. Feel free to post your ideas and comments.
My first novel, a lighthearted romance set in the world of stand-up comedy, was published by Moonshine Cove in April 2018.

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